To me, quail eggs are one of nature’s most beautiful creations – right up there next to the glorious blue egg of the robin. Unfortunately, I usually only get a view of the robin’s egg once it has fallen from the nest and cracked into pieces, but quail eggs are now found everywhere – from the farmers market to Whole Foods to grocery stalls in Chinatown. I once asked a Chinese friend why they were so common in Chinese markets and learned that, for centuries, quail eggs have been valued in Chinese medicine to reduce stress and heart problems. I think that they are supposed to be eaten raw to get the best results. We like to hard boil them to peel and eat as a little snack around cocktail time and on far fancier occasions they star as a receptacle for caviar.
judithchoate.com 
and much easier to experience than a stress test!
I recently saw quail eggs being sold at an International (but mainly Japanese) market, and they were so cute that I wanted to buy them, but I couldn’t face having to eat them. They seem to beautiful to eat. 🙂
They really are beautiful – you can put them in a bowl and let them age – the interior will dry out eventually and you’ll have a natural, long-lasting “floral” arrangement for your table.
One warning – if you do buy and hard boil, quail eggs are tricky to peel – a little patience works miracles, however.
Judie
I will have to try and remember that tip–quail eggs would make a very unique decoration!